Counterbeating device for threshing machines



J. MOULLEC May 26, 1953 COUNTERBEATING DEVICE FOR THRESHING MACHINES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19 1951 JIM eh For: J' AN A40ULEC May 26, 1953J. MOULLEC 2,639,714

COUNTERBEATING DEVICE FOR THRESHING MACHINES Filed June 19, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 3% van h r:

TEAM WI AHOY/H y Patented May 26, 1953 2,639,714 OFFICE COUNTERBEATINGDEVICE FOR THRESHING MACHINES Jean Moullec, Penhars pres Quimper, FranceApplication June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,375 In France June 30, 1950 14Claims. .1

The invention relates to a counter-beater for threshing-machines forcereals and similar matters.

The counter-beater comprises essentially one or more counter-beatingmembers mounted on a suitable frame, each of the counter-beating membershaving the shape of a cylindrical roller provided at each end with atrunnion and on its periphery with mutually spaced projections the topsof which are flush with a virtual cylindrical envelope, the three axesof said roller, of said trunnions and of said envelope being distinctand eccentric with respect to each other.

The projections of each counter-beating member are thus eccentric withrespect to the axis of the roller, so that they stand out high on oneside of the roller and their height decreases progressively towards theother side.

The adjustment of the position of each counter-beatin member withrespect to the threshing-cylinder may be effected by means of a key,

in combination with an arresting ratchet keyed on one of the trunnionsof each counter-beating member and locked against rotation in onedirection by a pawl.

Due to the three-fold eccentricity of the three axes of the parts ofeach counter-beating memher, it is possible to vary at will, on the onehand, the distance between the counter-beating membar and thethreshing-cylinder and, on the other hand, the depth of the intervalsbetween the projections on that portion of the counter-beating memberwhich faces exactly the threshingcylinder.

In a. preferred embodiment, the projections on the counter-beatingmember are helical ribs formed for example like a screw-threadingincluding one or more continuous threads. These ribs being eccentricwith respect to the axis of the roller, they stand out high on one sideof the roller and retract progressively towards the other side, wherethey may be flush with the surface of the roller. The helical ribs maybe shaped like right-handed threads on one counterbeating member of eachpair and like left-handed threads on the other.

The counter-beater provided with the improved counter-beating membersaccording to the invention has mainly the following advantages:

The counter-beating members are simple and easy to manufacture. It is nomore necessary to displace the whole counter-beater for adjustmentpurposes, which was heretofore the generally used method for adjustingthe distance between the counter-beating elements and thethreshing-cylinder, according to the kinds of cereals to be threshed.All auxiliary members such as slides, eccentrics, racks, adjustingscrews, links, etc, which were heretofore used for adjusting thecounter-beater or its members, are

dispensed with. The variable height of the pro-.

jections which is due to their eccentricity with are co-axial with eachother.

respect to the roller of the counter-beating member, makes it possibleto obtain a rational threading out, in accordance with the shape andthickness of the ears.

Four embodiments of the invention are represented by way of example onthe appended drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a counter-beater with four counter-beatingmembers.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 1I--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematical cross section at a larger scale of acounter-beating member and shows also the portion of thethreshing-cylinder facing the counter-beating member.

Fig. 5 is an end View of a counter-beating member.

Fig. 6 is a. side view of the key for adjusting the counter-beatingmembers.

Fig. 7 shows at a larger scale the indicating disk wedged on the key.

Figs. 8 and 9 are an end view and a partial elevation of a secondembodiment of a counterbeating member.

Figs. 10 and 11 are an end view and a partial elevation of a thirdembodiment of a counterbeating member.

Figs. 12 and 13 are an end view and a partial elevation of a fourthembodiment of a counterbeating member.

On the drawings, the ribs of the counter-beating members are shownlarger than they are in reality, for the sake of clearness of thedrawing.

The counter-beater has a frame formed by horizontal members I andvertical members I2 and mounted on the body of the threshing-machine byfour brackets 2|. On this frame are mounted one or more pairs ofcounter-beating members 2. Fig. 1 shows two pairs of counter- .beatingmembers, but the number of pairs is variable. Each counter-beatingmember 2 comprises a cylindrical roller of cast steel which ispreferably hollow and is provided at each end with a trunnion 3 and 3'respectively. The trunnions 3 and 3' of each counter-beating member Onits periphery, the counter-beating member carries helical ribs 4 whichare formed, for example, by three continuous screw threads. These ribs 4are righthanded threads on one counter-beating member of each pair ofleft-handed threads on the other. Thus, in Fig. l, the ribs of the firstand third counter-beating member counted from the top are right-handedthreads, and the ribs of the second and fourth counter-beating membervare left-handed threads.

The essential feature of the counter-beating member 2 resides in thefact that the axis 5 of its roller-shaped body is eccentric with respectto v the axisB of the trunnions 3, 3, and that the axis 3 1 of thevirtual cylindrical envelope E of the ribs 4 is eccentric with respectto both axes 5 and 5, so that the ribs 4 stand out high on one side, atA (Fig. 4) over the roller 2, while their height decreases progressivelytowards the opposite side, where they are flush with the roller 2. y

A threshing-cylinder 8 being mounted in front of a counter-beatingmember 2, it is possible to vary, on the one hand, the distance betweenthe heaters 9 on the cylinder 8 and the periphery A of the ribs 4 of theroller 2 and, on the other hand, the depth A--C of the groove formedbetween the ribs l on the side of the counter-beating member which facesthe heaters s. This variation is obtained by rotating the roller -2about the axis '6 of the trunnions 3, 3' which is eccentric with respectto the axis 5 of the roller 2 as well as with respect to the axis 1 orthe ribs 4.

By giving a complete turn to the counterbeating member, it is thuspossible to obtain an infinity of adjustments with respect to thethreshing-cylinder, on the one hand as regards the depth of the groovebetween the ribs c, and on the other hand as regards the clearancebetween the heaters -9 and the outer periphery A of the ribs 4. Byefiecting the rotation degree by degree, it would thus be possible toobtain 360 adjustments, each different of all others.

Such a fine adjustment is of course not made in practice and thecounter-beating members are mounted so as to be adjustable in a certainnumber of positions, for example twelve, by means of an arrestingratchet l0 -keyed on the trunnion 3 of each counter-beating memberand-cooperating with a pawl H mounted for example on the inner side ofthe vertical frame member 12, this pawl engaging the ratchet 10 underthe action of a spring (not shown) so as to lock it against rotation inone direction. A key 13 serves to turn the counter-beating members asdesired. This key (Fig. 6) comprises a handle I4 and a rod 15 whose end[6 has a non-circular cross section corresponding to the cross sectionof a hole 11 formed in the end of -the trunnion 3 (Fig. 5). On the rodI5 is wedged'an-indicating disk It (Fig. '7) provided on its peripherywith twelve teeth 49, in case the roller '2 is adjustable in twelvepositions. Each tooth l-9 carries a numeral from 1 to '12 andthe disk 18is shaped so to represent in relief the cross section of thecounter-beating member 2 and of its ribs 4, whereby the position of eachcounter-beating member is rendered visible from the outside of the"machine. Instead of wedging an indicating disk IS on the rodof thekey,such a disk could be mounted on the trunnion 301" 3' of eachcounter-beating member.

By inserting the end N5 of the key It into the hole H of the trunnion 3,it is possible to turn the latter so as to adjust the counter-beatingmember 2 in the desired position with respect to the heaters 9 of thethreshing-cylinder 8, so as to obtain,-on the one hand, the desiredclearance between the the heaters 9 and the periphery of the rib 4 and,on the other hand, the desired depth A-C of the groove between the ribs.This clearance and this depth are determined according to the nature ofthe cereals to be threshed, which are fed into the device in thedirection of the arrow F, while the threshing cylinder '8 r0- tates inthe direction of the arrow G. The adjustment of the counter-beatingmember "2 is effected in the direction of thearrow Each counter-beatingmember 2 may further comprise one .or:more narrow journals 20 which 4are concentric with the itrunnions "3, 3" and are supported by bearingsurfaces formed on a member 22 mounted in the frame I, I2. The number ofthese journals depends on the length of the counter-beating member.

Various modifications can be made in the described and shown embodimentwithout departing from the scope of the invention. These modificationsmay affect the nature, number and shape of the parts of the mechanism,the degree of eccentricity of the elements of each counterbeatingmember, the connection between the various parts of the device, etc.

In particular, the shape of the projections on the counter-beatingmembers as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 is not limitative.Thus, the'helical ribs on the periphery of the counterbeating membersmay be of polygonalshape, or they may be of right-handed and left-handedinclination and form bosses at their crossing. The projections on thebody of the counter-beating member may also be, for example,longitudinal ribs 23a to 23-h (Figs. '8 and 9), or transversal spaceddisks 24 (Figs. 10 and 11)., orspaced knob-shaped projections 25a to257' (Figs. 112 .and 13) In any case, the tops of the projections areflush with a virtual cylindrical envelope E the axis 1 of which iseccentric with respect to the axis 5 of :the counter-beating member body.2 and the axis 6 of the trunnions 3, .3

Finally, instead of being mounted on a special frame, the counterbeating members could be supported directly by the body of thethreshingmachine.

I claim:

1. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnions being co-axia'l with each other, and mutuallyspaced projections on theperiphery of said body, the tops of said projections being -flush with avirtual cylindrical envelope, the three axes of said body, of saidtrunnions and of said envelope being distinct and eccentric with respectto each other, so that said projections stand out high on one side overthe 1 surface of :said body and the height of said projectionsprogressively decreases towards theopposite side of said body.

2. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnions"being co-axial with each other, mutually spaced projections on theperiphery of said body, the tops of said projections being flush with avirtual cylindrical envelope, the three axes of said body, of saidtrunnions 'andof said envelope being "distinct and eccentric withrespect to each other, so that said projections stand out high on oneside over the surface of said body and the height "of said projectionsprogressively decreases towards the opposite side of said body, and atleast "one journal intermediate the ends of said 'body and concentricwith said trunnio-n's.

'3. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a-trunnion at each end of said trunnions beingco-axial with each other,-and at least one helical rib onthe'periphery'of said bodyythe three axes of said body, of saidtrunnions and of said helical 'rib being distinct and eccentric withrespect 'to each other, so that said rib stands out highon one side overthe surfaceof said-body'a-nd the height of said rib progressivelydecreases towards the opposite side-dfsaid body.

4. A counter-beating "member for 'ithre'shing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and at least one helical rib on theperiphery of said body, the three axes of said body, of said trunnionsand of said helical rib being distinct and eccentric with respect toeach other, so that said rib stands out high on one side over thesurface of said body and the height of said rib progressively de--creases towards the opposite side of said body, where said rib is flushwith the surface of said body.

5. A counter-beating member of threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and helical ribs on the periphery ofsaid body, said helical ribs being formed by at least one continuousscrew thread, and the three axes of said body, of said trunnions and ofsaid helical ribs being distinct and eccentric with respect to eachother, so that said ribs stand out high on one side over the surface ofsaid body and the height of said ribs progressively decreases towardsthe opposite side of said body.

6. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a. trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and helical ribs on the periphery ofsaid body, said helical ribs being formed by three continuous screwthreads, and the three axes of said body, of said trunnions and of saidhelical ribs being distinct and eccentric with respect to each other, sothat said ribs stand out high on one side over the surface of said bodyand the height of said ribs progressively decreases towards the oppositeside of said body.

7. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnions being co-axial with each other, at least one helical rib on the peripheryof said body, the three axes of said body, of said trunnions and of saidhelical rib being distinct and eccentric with respect to each other, sothat said rib stands out high on one side over the surface of said bodyand the height of said rib progressively decreases towards the oppositeside of said body, and at least one journal intermediate the ends ofsaid body and concentric with said trunnions.

8. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and mutually spaced longitudinal ribs onthe periphery of said body, the tops of said ribs being flush with avirtual cylindrical envelope, the three axes of said body, of saidtrunnions and of said envelope being distinct and eccentric with respectto each other, so that said ribs stand out high on one side over thesurface of said body and the height of said ribs progressively decreasestowards the opposite side of said body.

9. A counter-beating member for threshing machines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and mutually spaced transversaldisk-shaped projections on .the periphery of said body, the outer edgesof said projections being flush with a virtual cylindrical envelope, thethree axes of said body, of said trunnions and of said envelope beingdistinct and eccentric with respect to each other, so that saidprojections stand out high on one side over the surface of said body andthe height of said projections progressively decreases towards theopposite side of said body.

10. A counter-beating member for threshingmachines, comprising acylindrical body, a trunnion at each end of said body, said trunnionsbeing co-axial with each other, and mutually spaced knob-shapedprojections on the periphery of said body, the tops of said projectionsbeing flush with a virtual cylindrical envelope, the three axes of saidbody, of said trunnions and of said envelope being distinct andeccentric with respect to each other, so that said projections stand outhigh on one side over the surface of said body and the height of saidprojections progressively decreases towards the opposite side of saidbody.

11. A counter-beater for threshing machine, comprising a frame,counter-beating members as claimed in claim 1, bearing means on saidframe for rotatably supporting said trunnions of the counter-beatingmembers, and means for arresting each of said counter-beating members ina plurality of setting positions.

12. A counter-beater for threshing machines, comprising a frame,counter-beating members as claimed in claim 2, bearing means on saidframe for rotatably supporting said trunnions of the counter-beatingmembers, other bearing means on said frame for rotatably supporting saidjournals of the counter-beating members, and means for arresting each ofsaid counter-beating members in a plurality of setting positions.

13. A counter-beater for threshing machines, comprising a frame, atleast one pair of counterbeating members as claimed in claim 3, saidhelical rib being formed by right-handed threads on one counter-beatingmember of each pair and by left-handed threads on the othercounter-beating member of each pair, bearing means on said frame forrotatably supporting said trunnions of the counter-beating members, andmeans for arresting each of said counter-beating members in a pluralityof setting positions.

14. A counter-beater for threshing machines, comprising a frame, atleast one pair of counterbeating members as claimed in claim '7, saidhelical rib being formed by right-handed threads on one counter-beatingmember of each pair and by left-handed threads on the othercounter-beating member of each pair, bearing means on said frame forrotatably supporting said trunnions of the counter-beating members,other bearing means on said frame for rotatably supporting said journalsof the counter-beating members, and means for arresting each of saidcounterbeating members in a plurality of setting positions.

JEAN MOULLEC.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date No number Mans Feb. 5, 1836 210,927 Durand Dec. 17, 1878589,782 Janney Sept. 7, 1897 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 44,842Germany Oct. 1, 1888 125,569 Germany Nov. 23, 1901 153,593 Germany July22, 1904 852,774 France Mar. 2, 1940 707,581 Germany June 28, 1941

